Bangalore,
a fast growing metropolis, is the capital of the
southern Indian state of Karnataka. Founded by Kempe
Gowda in 1537, Bangalore is now a modern bustling city.
The city spreads over an area of 476.66 sq. km and has a
population of 6,158, 677. Kannada is the mother tongue
of the region, while other widely spoken languages are
Urdu, Hindi and English. Bangalore is home to a number
of business establishments and high-tech industries like
aerospace, electronics and fast spreading software
companies. The city also houses world renowned
institutions of learning and research, most popular
among them are the Indian Institute of Science, National
Aerospace Laboratories and Bangalore University.
Bangalore is also famous in the field of art and
culture; the city houses several schools of classical
music and dance. The city has many imposing structures
of historical and architectural significance and some of
the oldest and most beautiful temples in India. The
Garden City of Bangalore abounds in beautifully laid out
parks and gardens, wide avenues, majestic buildings and
charming bazaars.
Climate & Clothing
Bangalore is situated at an altitude of 1,000 m above
sea level and enjoys a salubrious climate. Summer months
of April-June are mild and temperature reaches to a high
of 35°C. Winters (October-February) are cool and the
temperature falls down to 11°C. The city experiences
most of the rainfall during July-September. Although the
climate of Bangalore is pleasant all through the year,
the best time to visit the city is from November to
February. Light cotton clothing is suitable for summers,
while light woollens are ideal for winters.
Accommodation
Some of the most popular hotels of the city include Le
Meridien (5 Star/ 28, Sankey Road), Taj Residency (5
Star/ 41/3, M.G. Road), The Leela Palace (5 Star/
23,Airport Road), The Taj West End Hotel (5 Star/ Race
Course Road), Windsor Manor Sheraton (5 Star/ 25, Sankey
Road), The Oberoi (5 Star/ 37-39, M.G. Road), St. Mark's
Hotel (4 Star/ 4/1, St. Marks Road), Hotel Luciya
International (4 Star, 60, O.T.C Road), Gateway Hotel (4
Star/ 66, Residency Road) etc.
Attractions
»
Cubbon Park : Situated in the heart of the city,
this park has beautifully laid out lawns, grassy
expanse, flowering trees, childrens's playground and a
restaurant.
» Vidhan Soudha : Built in the
Neo-Dravidian style of architecture, this grand edifice
is located at the northern end of Cubbon Park. Vidhan
Soudha houses the Secretariat and the state Legislature.
» Lalbagh : Located 2 km southeast of
the city centre, the beautiful garden stretches over an
area of 240 acres was laid by Hyder Ali in 1760. The
garden cotains old trees, lakes, lotus ponds, fountains,
flower beds, a deer park and a rare collection of
tropical plants.
» Government Museum : Situated at
Kasturba Road, the museum was established in 1886. It
has a large collection of artifacts, sculptures, coins
and inscriptions found in various parts of Karnataka.
» Tipu's Fort : Located on
Krishnarajendra Road, the fort was originally built with
mud by Kempegowda in 1537. The fort was renovated by
Hyder Ali in 1761 and was repared by Tipu Sultan later.
» Bull Temple : The beautiful temple
dedicated to 'Nandi', the sacred bull of Lord Shiva, is
situated on Bugle Hill at the end of Bull Temple road.
The temple was built by Kempegowda in the Dravidian
style of architecture.
» Venkatappa Art Gallery : Established
in the year 1966, the museum exhibits paintings of the
famous court painter S.K. Venkatappa. Musical
instruments made by Venkatappa are also on display.
Airport
Bangalore airport is located at a distance of 8 km from
the M.G. Road in the city. The city is well connected by
air with Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Goa,
Thiruvananthapuram and other cities in India. Direct
international flights from Bangalore to Muscat, Sharjah
and Singapore are available.
Local Modes of Transport
The
buses run by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport
Corporation (BMTC) and the Karnataka State Road
Transport Corporation (KSRTC) are efficient and
economical modes of transport for moving around in the
city. Other local modes of transport are the metered
auto-rickshaws, tourist taxis and cars.
Entertainment Options
If you are looking for good entertainment, then
Bangalore is the perfect city for you. Bangalore, the
fashion capital of India, keeps pace with the modern
world, and the city people love fun, music and dance
very much. The city has several multiplexes which are
always ready to draw the crowd, and they revive the fun
of movie watching. Bangalore is not only famous for its
cinema halls but the city is also famous for its
nightlife. The city is full of life till late night,
with people visiting discos and night clubs.
Adventure Activities
Coorg hill station is not too far away from Bangalore.
For adventure enthusiasts, the hill station a number of
sports options.
Shopping
Shopping in Bangalore is real fun for those who love
exploring markets and shopping complexes. The shops of
Bangalore offer eveything from pure silk saris to
Swaroski crystals. In addition to these, there are
several shops selling shoes, garment, hosiery, jewellery,
art decors, stationery, novelties, travel kits and
sports goods. Some of Bangalore's most popular shopping
areas are Commercial Street, Mahatama Gandhi Road,
Brigade Road and Residency Road.
